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Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013.

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Other Authors: Muller, Julian C.
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Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Muller, Julian C.
author_browse Muller, Julian C.
author_facet Muller, Julian C.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
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publishDate 2013
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/23902 Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study Muller, Julian C. okckfpc@sbcglobal.net Park, David Moonseok Confucius Confucianism Confucian filial piety Confucian ancestor worship Traditional custom Fundamental practical theology Korean protestant church The bible Conflict Harmony UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. This present thesis has been prudently undertaken how to approach practically and theologically the ethical issues for the effective preaching with Confucian filial piety which has challenged Korean churches. Serious conflicts are arising among Korean families because of Confucianism teachings that filial piety is the highest virtue of all ethical teachings and that ancestor worship is the continuation of filial piety to the dead parents. This issue creates a rigorous religious controversy for Korean Christians and places obstacles in the path of evangelism in Korean society. Chapter one reveals the research orientation which gives general information on how to approach and develop this issue. I approach this issue historically, theologically, practically, and/or biblically. I adopt fundamental practical theology as the main research positioning, which was suggested by Don Browning. I also make use of seven movements proposed by J C Müller in order to present the literary research and six fundamental steps proposed by Lewis and Demarest only for the theological foundation in chapter three. Chapter two reveals the effect of Confucian ancestor worship has on Asian countries and Christians, specifically in China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, which are under the influence of Confucianism, and how Confucian ancestor worship hinders people from receiving and following Jesus Christ and a common barrier to evangelism in these Eastern Asian countries. Chapter three reveals the theological foundations of Confucianism and Christianity. Confucianism has its own specific theologies of worship form, temple, canon, afterlife, and gods like those of Christianity. A comparison with the theological foundations of Confucianism and Christianity is made for a better understanding of Confucian ancestor worship and filial piety. Chapter four reveals the differences between Confucian and biblical teachings on filial piety. Confucian filial piety was taught by Confucius who is a founder of Confucianism, while the origins of biblical filial piety are rooted in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible teaches that filial piety is directed toward living parents, but Confucianism teaches that filial piety is to both living and dead parents; filial piety to the dead parents is ancestor worship. Chapter five reveals the distinctions between Confucian and biblical teachings on ancestor worship. Confucians believe that dead ancestors are able to protect their own families, bring fortunes to their descendants, watch over their own families, and to reward the right and punish the wrong, but the Bible ascribes to ancestor worship as idolatry as taught in the second commandment. Chapter six reveals the ways of practical theological applications of filial piety and ancestor worship. I propose the ways of practical theological applications without compromise in the circumstance of the acceptance of ancestor worship as a custom. Further, I challenge preachers as central to reconciliation how to make an effort to aid the rooting of biblical filial piety into Korean society as a traditional Korean heritage. I hope that this thesis will help non-Christians to understand the Christian perspective of filial piety and ancestor worship and why Christians reject Confucian ancestor worship, and how Christianity emphasizes filial piety. Further, my intent is to help Christians confirm their beliefs, challenge non- Christians by showing what Christians believe, and give wisdom on how to create harmony with non-Christian family members. Practical Theology unrestricted 2013-09-06T16:07:15Z 2013-04-18 2013-09-06T16:07:15Z 2013-04-15 2013-04-18 2013-04-09 Thesis Park, DM 2013, Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23902 > D13/4/314/ag http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23902 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04092013-150213/ © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Confucius
Confucianism
Confucian filial piety
Confucian ancestor worship
Traditional custom
Fundamental practical theology
Korean protestant church
The bible
Conflict
Harmony
UCTD
Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title_full Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title_fullStr Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title_full_unstemmed Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title_short Filial piety of Confucianism as a challenge for Korean churches : a practical theological study
title_sort filial piety of confucianism as a challenge for korean churches a practical theological study
topic Confucius
Confucianism
Confucian filial piety
Confucian ancestor worship
Traditional custom
Fundamental practical theology
Korean protestant church
The bible
Conflict
Harmony
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23902
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04092013-150213/